Patents by Inventor Chenmin Zhang

Chenmin Zhang has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9424127
    Abstract: Aspects of charger detection and optimization prior to host control are described herein. In various embodiments, a condition of whether reverse current is present on a system bus is detected. When the condition for reverse current is present, reverse current is sunk by one or more of various reverse current sink circuits. By relying upon one or more of the reverse current sink circuits, for safety, to address or mitigate the condition for reverse current, a detector may be able to identify or distinguish among several different types of charger or charging ports coupled to a system bus allowing a charger to be selected optimally. Further, an indicator of the type of charger or charging port coupled to the system bus is communicated over a single pin interface, for backwards compatibility with circuits capable of identifying between only two different types of chargers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Walid Nabhane, Mark D Rutherford, Narayan Prasad Ramachandran, David Chang, Yi Ting Chen, Chenmin Zhang, Ajmal A. Godil
  • Patent number: 8989331
    Abstract: Provided is a method for transferring data from one clock domain within a synchronizer to another domain within the synchronizer. The method includes determining system clock parameters within the synchronizer and analyzing a first domain clock signal based upon the system clock parameters. Next, a second domain clock signal is analyzed based upon the first domain clock signal and the system clock parameters. A determination is made as to when to transfer data from a first clock domain to a second clock domain in accordance with the analysis of the first and second domain clock signals, and an enable signal is provided to affect the data transfer from the first domain to the second clock domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sam H. Liu, Zhiqing Zhuang, Chaoyang Zhao, Vinay Bhasin, Chenmin Zhang, Lawrence J. Madar, III, Vafa J. Rakshani
  • Patent number: 8909956
    Abstract: A state machine and an external interface, including its associated input-outputs (IOs), are always powered on and used to manage the chip power modes and power mode transitions. The chip power modes are defined as RUN, HIBERNATE, POWERDOWN, with many more possible with this invention. For example, once the device is in HIBERNATE or POWERDOWN modes, the power supplies to the IC are either reduced, or completely disconnected except for this controller state machine. This invention's state machine and control mechanism, in response to some external “wake up event”, will bring the chip to RUN mode by managing the state of the external power supplies through its control interface. The implementation achieves small die size and extreme low power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiqing Zhuang, Vinay Kumar Bhasin, Lawrence John Madar, III, Chenmin Zhang, Vafa James Rakshani, Soheyla Kamal
  • Publication number: 20140223200
    Abstract: Aspects of charger detection and optimization prior to host control are described herein. In various embodiments, a condition of whether reverse current is present on a system bus is detected. When the condition for reverse current is present, reverse current is sunk by one or more of various reverse current sink circuits. By relying upon one or more of the reverse current sink circuits, for safety, to address or mitigate the condition for reverse current, a detector may be able to identify or distinguish among several different types of charger or charging ports coupled to a system bus allowing a charger to be selected optimally. Further, an indicator of the type of charger or charging port coupled to the system bus is communicated over a single pin interface, for backwards compatibility with circuits capable of identifying between only two different types of chargers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Walid Nabhane, Mark D. Rutherford, Narayan Prasad Ramachandran, David Chang, Yi Ting Chen, Chenmin Zhang, Ajmal A. Godil
  • Publication number: 20100257393
    Abstract: A state machine and an external interface, including its associated input-outputs (IOs), are always powered on and used to manage the chip power modes and power mode transitions. The chip power modes are defined as RUN, HIBERNATE, POWERDOWN, with many more possible with this invention. For example, once the device is in HIBERNATE or POWERDOWN modes, the power supplies to the IC are either reduced, or completely disconnected except for this controller state machine. This invention's state machine and control mechanism, in response to some external “wake up event”, will bring the chip to RUN mode by managing the state of the external power supplies through its control interface. The implementation achieves small die size and extreme low power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiqing Zhuang, Jalil Fadavi-Ardekani, Soheyla Kamal, Vinay Kumar Bhasin, Lawrence John Madar, III, Chenmin Zhang, Vafa James Rakshani
  • Patent number: 7739528
    Abstract: A state machine and an external interface, including its associated input-outputs (IOs), are always powered on and used to manage the chip power modes and power mode transitions. The chip power modes are defined as RUN, HIBERNATE, POWERDOWN, with many more possible with this invention. For example, once the device is in HIBERNATE or POWERDOWN modes, the power supplies to the IC are either reduced, or completely disconnected except for this controller state machine. This invention's state machine and control mechanism, in response to some external “wake up event”, will bring the chip to RUN mode by managing the state of the external power supplies through its control interface. The implementation achieves small die size and extreme low power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiqing Zhuang, Jalil Fadavi-Ardekani, Soheyla Kamal, legal representative, Vinay Kumar Bhasin, Lawrence John Madar, III, Chenmin Zhang, Vafa James Rakshani
  • Publication number: 20100070659
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for operating and/or charging a battery powered USB device based on a USB port type are provided. In this regard, in a USB device comprising a power management IC and a multi-function IC, a port type detection module in the multi-function IC may determine whether the USB device is attached to a standard host port or a charging port. Additionally, a power source in the power management IC, which may supply power to the port type detection module, may be enabled upon attachment of the USB device to a USB port and disabled subsequent to determination of port type. Also, one or more portions and/or functions of the power management IC may be configured based on the determined port type. Similarly, one or more portions and/or functions of the multi-function IC may be enabled or disabled based on the determined port type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth Ma, Chenmin Zhang, Alfonsus Lunardhi, Manisha Pandya, Shimon Elkayam
  • Patent number: 7391788
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for a communication bus for resetting one or more devices connected to the bus. The transceiver bus (620) may include a single serial data line (616), a single serial clock line (614) and a single reset line (612). A status of a slave device coupled to the transceiver bus (620) may be determined by a master device. Based on the status of the slave device, the master device may execute a forced reset or a normal reset. In a case where a device may be unresponsive, the master device may execute a forced reset. Additionally, in a case where a device is responsive but requires resetting, the master device may execute a normal reset and selectively reset a slave device requiring reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Chenmin Zhang, Steve Thomas, Randall Stolaruk
  • Publication number: 20070288778
    Abstract: A state machine and an external interface, including its associated input-outputs (IOs), are always powered on and used to manage the chip power modes and power mode transitions. The chip power modes are defined as RUN, HIBERNATE, POWERDOWN, with many more possible with this invention. For example, once the device is in HIBERNATE or POWERDOWN modes, the power supplies to the IC are either reduced, or completely disconnected except for this controller state machine. This invention's state machine and control mechanism, in response to some external “wake up event”, will bring the chip to RUN mode by managing the state of the external power supplies through its control interface. The implementation achieves small die size and extreme low power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiqing Zhuang, Jalil Fadavi-Ardekani, Soheyla Kamal, Vinay Kumar Bhasin, Lawrence John Madar, Chenmin Zhang, Vafa James Rakshani
  • Publication number: 20070280396
    Abstract: Provided is a method for transferring data from one clock domain within a synchronizer to another domain within the synchronizer. The method includes determining system clock parameters within the synchronizer and analyzing a first domain clock signal based upon the system clock parameters. Next, a second domain clock signal is analyzed based upon the first domain clock signal and the system clock parameters. A determination is made as to when to transfer data from a first clock domain to a second clock domain in accordance with the analysis of the first and second domain clock signals, and an enable signal is provided to affect the data transfer from the first domain to the second clock domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sam H. Liu, Zhiqing Zhuang, Chaoyang Zhao, Vinay Bhasin, Chenmin Zhang, Lawrence J. Madar, Vafa J. Rakshani
  • Publication number: 20040095952
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for a communication bus for resetting one or more devices connected to the bus. The transceiver bus (620) may include a single serial data line (616), a single serial clock line (614) and a single reset line (612). A status of a slave device coupled to the transceiver bus (620) may be determined by a master device. Based on the status of the slave device, the master device may execute a forced reset or a normal reset. In a case where a device may be unresponsive, the master device may execute a forced reset. Additionally, in a case where a device is responsive but requires resetting, the master device may execute a normal reset and selectively reset a slave device requiring reset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Chenmin Zhang, Steve Thomas, Randall Stolaruk
  • Patent number: 6226777
    Abstract: An improved integrated circuit design tool allows the incorporation of minor revisions to a high level register transfer language (RTL) code (netlist) by incorporating within a formal verification tool an engineering change order (ECO) compiler. The addition of the ECO compiler to the formal verification tool eliminates the need to rerun a synthesis tool after minor changes to a revised RTL netlist in order to generate a revised gate (logic) level netlist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chenmin Zhang
  • Patent number: 6163867
    Abstract: A method and a system for testing integrated devices such as chips used on a printed circuit board. The system includes test logic formed on the chip and coupled to bi-directional input/output pads. The system is capable of testing input pads, output pads, and bi-directional pads by coupling an input test signal from one pad of a pair of pads to the output of a second pad of the pair of pads. If the signal read out of the second pad corresponds to the expected value, the pads may be considered properly connected. The chips may be tested at any stage during chip manufacture, including after forming the die on a wafer, after cutting the die from the wafer and after packaging the die to produce the chip, and after attaching the chip to a printed circuit board. The system and method allow for quick and easy testing of pad connectivity during the manufacturing process, while minimizing the number of extra gates and trace lines on the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: John Miller, Richard Ortiz, Chenmin Zhang